JEANNE’S REVIEW

THE FRIEND is a beautiful and important film about love, loss and grief --- and what happens to those left behind after a suicide. Based on the novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez, the writing/directing team Scott McGehee and David Siegel have accomplished what few films have been able --- honest conversations about a topic many people still unfortunately regard as taboo. And, it features a spectacular Harlequin Great Dane!

Walter (Bill Murray) is a writer --- a bon vivant --- and a bit of a womanizer. Despite being on his third wife, his best friend is Iris (Naomi Watts), a fellow writer, whom he continues to mentor. He lives in a lovely brownstone in Brooklyn, while she resides in a 500 square foot rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan across from the park.

One day, while out on a run, Walter espies a magnificent Great Dane sitting alone on a hill not too far from Jane’s Carousel at the bottom of the Brooklyn Bridge. He has no collar and no one is around, so, much to the dismay of his third wife, Barbara (Noma Dumezweni), Walter takes the dog home. He names him Apollo. The problem becomes “What’s going to happen to the dog?” after Walter commits suicide. Barbara doesn’t want him --- at all --- and claims that Walter wanted Iris to take him.

A couple of problems with that: 1. Iris is a cat person and 2. she lives in a no-pet building. But she rescues Apollo from the kennel anyway and takes him to her apartment with the intention of finding him a new home. Poor Apollo is morose --- he won’t eat and he has taken over Iris’ bed while clinging to one of Walter’s old t-shirts. Meanwhile, the maintenance man for her building, Hektor (Felix Solis), is constantly reminding Iris that the dog has to go.

Siegel and McGehee’s screenplay is deep and insightful --- and very funny at times. Not only is Iris dealing with her own emotions of anger, resentment and great sadness, but now she has to worry about Apollo and his well-being. And as they work through getting to know one another, a real bond begins to form --- and Iris risks getting evicted.

In one of the truly most poignant scenes in THE FRIEND, Iris visits her former psychiatrist, Dr. Warren (Tom McCarthy), to get Apollo declared as an emotional support animal. But it is Iris who finally opens up about her feelings regarding Walter’s suicide. It’s a beautifully written sequence depicting a wide range of emotions by Iris after gentle coaxing from Dr. Warren.

But ultimately, THE FRIEND is about the development of a loving attachment between a woman and a dog. As Iris begins to work through her grief with the constant companionship from Apollo, she starts to write again --- a cathartic effort which benefits them both.

Watts is simply superb. She is the perfect choice to embody Iris. Her performance is strong and assured as she winds her way through Iris’ many feelings regarding her friendship with Walter. She’s adept at revealing Iris’ vulnerabilities and her reticence to open herself up to another loving connection. It’s really quite a marvelous effort.

Murray, of course, provides much of the comic relief, though it is still a serious role for him. He and Watts are both terrific with Bing who plays Apollo. The filmmakers did an exhaustive search for just the right dog and found Bing in Iowa. He’s a family pet and has the “gentle, human-like connection” they were looking for. To write that he was the ideal choice is an understatement. He’s absolutely amazing.

Much like Woody Allen, whose films set in New York City are always an homage to the great metropolis, McGehee and Siegel make New York look sensational. Shooting over 35 days in February and March of 2024, cinematographer Giles Nuttgens has filmed a love letter, many times from a dog’s eye view. It’s exquisite.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!

DAVID’S REVIEW

Let’s say you had a very good friend who died suddenly and left his pet dog to you. Obviously, you could keep the animal --- or locate a shelter --- or find a new owner. In the case of THE FRIEND, Walter (Bill Murray) leaves his best friend, Iris (Naomi Watts), his 150- pound Harlequin Great Dane named Apollo. The Harlequin breed is rare with its black and white coat. But Apollo is something else altogether.

Played by Bing --- the dog’s name in real life --- Apollo shows true sadness at the loss of his best friend, Walter. We see it in Apollo’s manner and especially in his eyes. As for Iris, living in a 500 square foot apartment in Manhattan where dogs are not allowed, keeping Apollo presents many obstacles.

THE FRIEND, based on the novel of the same name by Sigrid Nunez, showcases the absolutely indelible performance by Watts who also narrates. Iris has lost her closest friend, her mentor --- she’s a writer --- and only briefly, her lover. But how can she possibly keep Apollo --- aside from the obvious problems --- since the dog is a constant reminder of Walter?

Adapted for the screen by co-writers/directors David Siegel and Scott McGehee, THE FRIEND is all about how humans handle grief, suicide and life’s challenges. The act of suicide may be the ultimate release for the person committing the act, however it also has a frequently devastating effect on the friends and family who survive. But this film is also filled with humor --- how can it not with Murray in the cast?

Actually, Murray’s Walter is seen mostly in flashbacks, save for one fantasy sequence. The actor does not respond to digital tapes and the like from filmmakers who want to cast him, so Watts, who is friends with Murray, hand-delivered a printed copy of the script. He loved it and that was that.

The title THE FRIEND is decidedly ambiguous. It could apply to Walter and Iris, or Iris and Apollo, or both. Either way, the film is a testament to the human spirit and the often-incomparable relationships between animals and humans.

The ending of the film shows Apollo on the beach in a scene that you will not soon forget. It is many things all at once --- worrisome, surprising and a true indication of Bing’s abilities that help to make THE FRIEND a special movie-going experience.

Opinion: Strong See It Now!